Tulsa Escapes With 2-1 Victory Over Herd Softball

April 27, 2008

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall Thundering Herd softball team fell 2-1 to the University of Tulsa in the home and Conference USA season finale, Sunday afternoon at Dot Hicks Field in front of a crowd of 402.

The Herd finishes conference action with a 11-11 record and drops to 24-28 overall. With the win, the Golden Hurricane improves to 30-21 and 11-10 in conference play.

"It was a disappointing loss, but our pitching is coming along and we are just a couple of big hits away from putting teams away," Marshall Head Coach Shonda Stanton said. "We'll continue to fight and scrap and now we're just going to focus on closing out the season against Georgetown and then heading off to the conference tournament."

Sophomore ace Caitlyn Jackson (12-16) was credited with the loss after going five innings allowing two runs from seven hits. She was relieved in the six when junior Autumn Mitchell entered the game. Mitchell closed out the final two innings limiting the Golden Hurricane to one hit, while striking out four.

Saturday's losing pitcher, Jordan Kinard (12-5) avenged her loss with a complete-game effort giving up six hits and a run. She finished with seven strikeouts increasing her season total to 121, a team-high.

Marshall's senior catcher Rachel Folden and Jackson were the offensive leaders as they combined for four hits from the Herd total of six. Freshman first baseman Melanie Stoehr earned the only Herd RBI of the game in the bottom of the six when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Herd and Golden Hurricane were both held scoreless through the first three innings, but Tulsa ended the drought with its first run in the top of the fourth. After center fielder Vanessa Vice leadoff the fourth with a single to left field, Kelly Chapman followed with a single to right center to advance Vice to third. Designated player hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Vice from third.

The Golden Hurricane added its final run in the fifth frame when Lauren Lindsay started the inning with a solo homer to right field.

Trailing 2-0, the Herd loaded the bases after Folden used one of her two singles to start off the inning. After a pop out from Samantha Rodriguez, the Herd hit back-to-back singles from Jackson and left fielder Rachael Sofie to load the bases. With one-out, Stoehr was hit by a Kinard pitch to score the Herd's lone run. The Herd would come up short in its attempt to capitalize after the next two batters struck out to end Marshall's scoring chances.

Prior to the game, Marshall recognized its three seniors, Rachel Folden, Samantha Rodriguez and Deanna Tourville. The seniors will now conclude its 2008 regular-season when it travels to Washington, D.C., for a doubleheader against Georgetown, Saturday, May 3 beginning at 1 p.m. (ET).

Tulsa 2, Marshall University 1 (Apr 27, 2008 at Huntington, W.Va.)----------------------------------------------------------------------Tulsa............... 000 110 0 -  2  8  0      (30-21, 11-10)Marshall University. 000 001 0 -  1  6  0      (24-28, 11-11)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Tulsa - KINARD, J.. Marshall University - Jackson, Caitlyn; MITCHELL, Autumn(6).Win-KINARD, J.(12-5)  Loss-JACKSON, Caitlyn(12-16)  T-1:58  A-402HR TLS - LINDSAY, L. (13).Weather: Cloudy and overcast

Tulsa Escapes With 2-1 Victory Over Herd Softball

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Folden

Caitlyn Jackson

Autumn Mitchell

Samantha Rodriguez

Rachael Sofie

Melanie Stoehr

Deanna Tourville

Marshall University Athletics

Tulsa Escapes With 2-1 Victory Over Herd Softball

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Rachel Folden

Caitlyn Jackson

Autumn Mitchell

Samantha Rodriguez

Rachael Sofie

Melanie Stoehr

Deanna Tourville

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